The Flattered Flying Fish .poetry work 1.

poem

1. The Flattered Flying Fish E.V. Rieu

2. The Flattered Flying Fish Said the Shark to the Flying-Fish over the phone: 'Will you join me to-night? I am dining alone. Let me order a nice little dinner for two! And come as you are, in your shimmering blue.' Said the Flying-Fish: 'Fancy remembering me, And the dress that I wore at the Porpoises' tea!' 'How could I forget? said the Shark in his guile: 'I expect you at eight!' and rang off with a smile. She has powdered her nose; she has put on her things; She is off with one flap of her luminous wings O little one, lovely, light-hearted and vain, The moon will not shine on your beauty again!

3. Title What does the title of the poem tell us about what the poem could be about? There is alliteration present with the repetition of the letter ‘F’. There is personification present in the title, as it describes the fish as being, ‘flattered’.

4. Structure The poem is made up of three stanzas and 12 lines. The rhyme scheme is aabb ccdd eeff.

5. Characterisation What are the significant traits of the characters in the text? The shark is sly, dangerous, predatory by nature, devious and greedy. The fish is na ï ve, silly, easily flattered, vain.

6. Themes present in the poem The flying-fish, so overcome with the flattery and attention she rec ei ves from the shark, fails to see his alterior motives. This ultimately leads to her death. The poem tells us that we must always be mindful and careful of people/things who intend to hurt us and put us in danger. W e must not be easily fooled, but rather, always aware of the possible dangers nearby.

7. Vocabulary Flatter – cause (someone) to feel  honoured  and pleased. Porpoise – similar to a dolphin but with a shorter nose. Guile - sly or cunning intelligence. Luminous – giving off light; bright or shining. Vain - excessively proud of or concerned about one's own appearance, qualities, achievements.

8. Stanza 1 analysed Opens with a dialogue between the shark and the flying fish. This is indicated by the qoutation marks in the second line. T he shark is inviting the fish for dinner, as well as, implying that he is lonely. In line three, the shark is being prosumptious as the fish has not yet given her answer. This is also ironic as the shark will be the only one eating. In line four, the shark is clearly trying to flatter the flying fish, as we see that he compliments her (shimmering). The poet is also building an image of the fish, in the mind of the reader by describing her dressed in shimmering blue.

9. Stanza 2 analysed In line 5, it is clear that the fish is flattered that the shark remembered her, as well as what she had on when he last saw her. I n line 7, the shark asks a rhetorical question, implying that the flying fish is simply unforgettable. The use of the word ’guile’ in the line, indicates the sharks alterior motives. In line 8, the shark ends the phonecall with a smlie, indicating that his plan is going smoothly. Lines 7 and 8 is when shift in tone becomes quite clear.

10. Stanza 3 analysed In line 9, we see that the flying-fish has prepared for her date by enhancing her beauty through makeup and accessories. The language in line 10 indicates that she left quickly, as she was excited for the date. The speaker describes her as having ‘luminous wings’ – again, supporting the idea that she was very beautiful. Line 11 refers to the fish as, ‘little one’ which helps the reader imagine the vast size difference between the flying-fish and the shark. There is personification present in line 11 as the speaker refers to the fish as being ’light-hearted and vain’. She knows she is beautiful, and falls for flattery, which will lead to her untimely death. Line 12 is an example of euphemism as we understand this line means that the fish will die.